Tenants - appliance damage - whose responsibility?

[thumbwitch]

I have just been informed that my tenants have broken the oven door. It is glass and apparently the screw was loose, allowing it to fall and smash on the quarry tile floor.

They have been in the property for over a year - the screws were not loose when we left it.

Is it entirely my responsibility to pay for a replacement? Or should they pay? Or should it be split?

Thanks for any help - the agent is supposed to be emailing me back but I'd like other opinions too please.

I think you'll end up paying,as you should probably have had it checked after a year. Having said that we never did Screws do work loose although if it were an issue they ought to have reported it. Do you have accidental insurance cover ?

i would say it's the tenents responsibility.

i'm in rental and i take care of the landlords appliances because i don't want the hassle and expense of replacing.

i really can't see why you should pay if they ignored the loose screws and broke the door.

Me either but the estate agent has just informed me that it comes under "general wear and tear". So yes, LIZS, you are right - I will of course end up paying.

I'm pretty sure my house insurance won't cover it - and I don't think I have accidental insurance cover anywhere else.

Thank you for your replies (wish I had you as a tenant, bamboobutton!)

This bloody tenancy is ending up costing me money, I swear.

If the screw was loose they should have reported it to you, thus giving you the opportunity to have it fixed. In a standard Assured Shorthold Tenancy (assuming this is what you have) it is the tenants' responsibility to report repairs immediately. If they do not do this and the situation deteriorates (as in the glass falling out and breaking) then the tenants are liable due to their own negligence.

Well that is what I would have hoped but apparently the first indication that a screw was loose was the handle coming off at one end; and then when she tried to open it again, the other end came out as well and the glass slipped. They are saying that the handle was the only thing holding the glass front on and that the other holding screw had obviously been missing for some time.

It is extremely unlikely that the handle would have gone from securely fixed to falling off without some kind of loose wobbliness in between - so they should have done something about it, right?

for the amount of rent that we pay, I expect all appliances to be save and in working order and for them to be replaced repaired as soon as I point it out to the landlord/agency.
however, I do make sure that I keep appliances clean and call the landlord/agency if something is wrong right away.

They should have reported it to you, but I would ask myself whether it was worth getting into a huge debate with my tenants over, bearing in mind that the repair will need to be carried out as soon as possible for them to safely use their oven, and the cost of the replacement glass is probably not going to break the bank. I would just make it clear that they need to report such things promptly otherwise next time they may be liable.

how hard is it to tighten a screw though??

in our last place the glass on the oven door started coming loose. i got a screw driver, took the door off, took the door apart, tighted the screws, put door back together again and re-attached it to the oven. good as new and i didn't run crying to the LL to fix it.

i'm actually quite annoyed at the pathetic-ness of your tenants.

So am I, bamboo.

Thankfully it would appear that my appliance insurance, that I have specifically for the oven, covers accidental breakage! I am very happy (assuming that the claim clears ok) - hurrah!.

I will of course mention it to them re. either fixing loose screws or talking to the Agent a bit faster next time.
They are a bit feckless re. screwdrivers though - when I went to the house in Feb, the doorknocker was off and had been for some time; and one of the knobs for the dimmer switch was also off and they "weren't sure where they'd put it"

But otoh they are good longterm tenants and pay promptly so I shouldn't really complain too much.

Thanks so much for your help!